Straightening apparatus



June 16, 1953 '1.' J, VAN HUFFEL 2,642,115

STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28 1 951 INVENTOR. IsqnomzJ Vnu Huff-5b Z Mm June 16, 1953 J. VAN HUFFEL 2,642,115

STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NIL I AAIH June 16, 1953 l. J. VAN HUFFEL $642,115

STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 28", 1951 E INVENTOR.

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June 16, 1953 l. J. VAN HUFFEL STRAIGH'IENING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 28. 1951 INVENTOR. ISHDORE J 'VHN HUI-TEL Patented June 16, 1953 STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS Isadore J. Van Hufiel, Warren, Ohio, assignor to Van Hufiel Tube Corporation, Warren, Ohio,

a'corporation of Ohio Application March 28, 1951, Serial No. 217,979

My invention relates to straightening apparatus, more particularly to apparatus for use with 7 machines for processing elongated material, such as tubing, shapes, forms and the like, and

the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved apparatus of such character,

In present day manufacture of tubing no reliable provision is made for maintaining the I tube in rectilinear formation and preventing 11 Claims. (01. 153-50) tion on any other elongated material, such as metal shapes and forms, with equal facility. a In the drawings accompanying this specification' and forming a part of this application, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in these drawings: Figure'l is a side-elevational view of apparatus embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view corresponding generally to the line 29-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of certain parts included in the apparatus,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding generally to the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding generally to the line 5-5 of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a fragmentar perspective view of control means embodied in the app-aratusof my invention, and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating electrical connections.

My invention-is particularly adapted for use with a tube forming -machine and the disclosure herein will be directed to this combination, although it will be apparent that a machine for processing metal shapes and forms may equally well be used with my invention. The tube forming machine In, fragm'entarily shown in the drawings, maybe of any well known construction and therefore need not be shown or described in detail. In certain forming machine's strip 2 7 metal is fed into the machine and by a series of roller stations such strip is bent into tube form and is then'passed between weld rolls and welded by the electric resistance method. Thereafter, the welded tubing is operated on by one or more series of rolls which size and shape the tubing, and the latter rolls are designated by the'numeral H in Figure 1. Ordinarily, the finished tubing emerges from the forming machine and is cut into desired lengths.

In accordance with the present invention, straightening apparatus 12 is positioned adjacent to the leaving'end of the forming machine ID, such apparatus being adapted to act on the tubing and maintain it in predetermined condition. 1 a

' As seen in Figures 1, 2, .3 and 5, the apparatus l2 herein disclosed comprises'a slide l3 having a base 14 and an'upright back l5. Ribs 16 are welded in position to strengthen the connection "of base I4 with back it and to impart rigidity to the slide 13. A platform all is welded to the 'uper endof the back 15 and ribs [6 fora purpose later to appear. Wingsl8 and I9 extend upwardly from opposite ends of the base M and gibs 20 are secured in spaced-apart relation to the undersurface of the base The back I5 is formed with an aperture 2| through which the tubing isadapted topass. v

The slide [3 is mounted for sliding movement on a plate 22 whichis adapted to be secured to a suitable stationary-support -23, the plate 22 having a ten'on portion 24 adapted to lit in dove-tail relation with the mortise formed by the gibs 20. Thus, the slide I3 may move along the tenon portion 24, and such movement is transverse to, the line of travel of the tube T.

The upright side edges of back l5 are bevelled to provide a dove-tail tenon which is slidably receivable between gibs ZS- 25 secured in spacedapart relation to the back of a mounting plate I Hi-which may be considered as a second slide. The plateZB is formed with an aperture 2! which is counterbored asshown at 28. An extension 29 projects from an upright edge of the plate for a purpose later to appear, and a pair of spaced lugs-3fi-30 extend downwardly from the lower margin of the plate 26.

Journalled between the lugs 30 is a worm 3|,

a shaft 32 extending from the worm and having connection with a reversible electric motor 33 for purposes of rotating the worm. A worm gear segment :34 issecured to the peripheral surface a to bear against the front surface of the mounting plate 26, and this rear surface is formed with an annular undercut shoulder fitting within the counterbore 23 to hold the head 36 to true rotation with respect to the mounting plate 26.

Extending forwardly from the front surface of the head plate 35 are four projections Si, each angular in cross-section, the projections being spaced about the center of the plate 35 to provide bearings for four rolls 38 which are disposed in cluster arrangement and are adapted to engage four radially spaced-apart portions of the tube. As herein disclosed, the tube is of square cross-section and accordinglyeachofthe four rolls is formed with a flat.- peripheral surface forengagement with a respective side of the tube. However, it will be appreciated that tubing of other cross-sectional contour may be processed by my apparatus. For example, round tubing may be processed, and in such event each of the .rolls 38 will have a concave peripheral contour for engagement with radially spaced-apart portions of the tube. Further, if metal shapes and -forms are being processed, it will be appreciated that the rolls 38 will be of suitable number, configuration and disposition to properly engage the particular shape or form being processed.

-Each leg of a projection 31 is formed with a keyhole aperture 39, the larger part of the aperture being adapted to pass the diameter of 2,3.

roll-supporting shaft 4c, and the smaller part of the aperture being adapted to closely-receive a respective one of the flattened ends 41 of such shaft. Thus, with a roll 38 between adjoining legs of apair: of projections 37, a shaft may be:

moved endwise through the larger part of one aperture 39, through the aperture in the roll, and through the larger part 'of an aligned aperture 39, and the flattened ends 4| of the shaft may be aligned with the smaller parts of the I apertures and moved into position therein. Set screws :12 (see Figure 1) maintain the shafts 46 in position. A plate 43 is suitably secured to the terminal ends of the projections 31 to impart rigidity to the structure, and this plate is apertured to pass the tubing.

A bracket 44 is secured to the platform I! and this bracket supports a reversible electric motor 45 which is provided witha gear reduction unit 45. The shaft of the gear unit extends downwardly toward the mounting plate '26 and its extremity 41 is threaded for reception in a nut 58. The nut 48 is secured to the upper margin of the plate by means of b olts49. Thus, the motor 45, depending upon rotation of. its

shaft, is adapted to raise or lower the mounting plate 26 and the head 36 connected to the mounting plate, this movement being in a direction transverse to the line of movement of the tube.

The slide (3, plate 26 and head 36 carried by the slide, are mounted for movement transverse to the line of movement of the tube, this movement also being transverse to the hereinbefo-re described movement of the plate 26 and head 35, g

The extremity of theshaft 53 is threaded, as;

is secured a reversible electric motor 33.

of the standard 68.

tally in one direction or the other-along the tenon 24 forme'das part of the'plate22.

A bracket 51, having angularly disposed legs 56, 59 is secured to the mounting plate 26 for movement therewith, and in the embodiment disclosed, the leg 58 is bolted to the extension 25 0f. the plate 26 and the leg 59 is disposed in offset relation 'topro-vide a platform to which The shaft-of the motor 33 is connected to a reduction gear unit 582), and the shaft of the unit 58?) is coupled, by coupling 56:1, to the shaft 32 which is connected to the worm 3!.

The head 36 is held to the mounting plate 26 by means of two bolts which pass through arcuate slots 66 in the circular plate 35 and are threaded in apertures 67 formed in the plate 26, the bolts 65 permitting rotative movement of the head 36 in an amount defined by the length secured to a support which may be the same support which carries the straightening apparatus. The standard 68 comprisesa base 59, an upright portion 15, and an upper arm II overhanging the base- 69. A gusset plate 12 is welded to the'parts comprising the standard to impart rigidity thereto.

An elongated member 13 is adapted to be yieldably supported in juxtaposition to the line of travel of the tubing as it leaves the forming machine and the straightening apparatus, and as herein disclosed such member is ;,of angle cross-section to provide two legs 14 and 15. The leg 14 is adapted to overlie the tubing and the leg 15 is adapted to be positioned alonga side of the tubing.

The elongated member 13 is pendulously supported in juxtaposition with respect to: the line of travel of the tubing, and in the present embodiment the support comprises a lug 66 which is welded to the member and a coil spring 6| which has its lower end, connected to the lug 60 and its upper end connected to a bolt 62 which extends through a slot 63 in the upper arm H An adjusting nut 64 is threaded on the bolt 62 and bears against the top surface of the upper arm H. v

Welded in spaced-apart relation at substantially'the midpoint of the elongated member 13 are two upright cleats 'l616 having their upper ends connected, as by welding, to a split clamp 17. The lower ends of the cleats 16 arespanned by a lug 18 which is apertured to pass the stud T9 of a connector, the stud being integral with an apertured lug 86 toform the connector.

A link 81, having spaced furcated portions 82, 83, is adapted to provide for stability of the elongated member 13 and-as herein disclosed, the

furcation 82 is pivotally connected to the lug 80 and the furcation 83 is pivotally connected to a lug 84. The lug 84 is formed integrally with a stud 85 which is journalled in a block 96 secured to the base 69. Thus, the elongated memher is yieldably held .against undesirable movement in a direction longitudinally of the' line of movement of the tubing.

, Rollers 90, 9I are journalled between lugs 92v at each end of the leg 14 of the member 13, and rollers 93, 94 are journalled between lugs 95 at each end of the leg 15. Rollers 9I, 94 are adapted to engage radially spaced portions of the tubing and rollers 90, 93 are also adapted to engage radially spaced portions of the tubing, the latter portions being longitudinally spaced from the first named portions. A coil spring II4 has one end connected to the link 8| and its other end connected to a threaded stud II carried by the upright portion of the standard 68, jam nuts IIB being threaded on the stud H5 and bearing against opposite sides of the upright portion to maintain the! stud in selected spring tensiomng position.

' Intermediate the length of the member 13, the leg 14 thereof is formed with a slot 95 through which a roller 91 is adapted to work. The roller 91 is carried by furcations 98 formed on arod 99 which extends through a tube I00 and into a switch housing IOI which contains electrical switching apparatus of a suitable commercially available type. Generally, the rod 99 is pivotally mounted, as at I02 (see Figure '1) and an extremity is adapted to engage one or the other of switch contacts I03, I04. The tube I99 is supported by a split clamp I05 carried by the leg 14 of the member 13.

A slot I05 is formed in the leg intermediate its length, and a roller I01 is adapted to work through the slot. The roller I01 is carried at the end of a rod I08 which extends through a tube I09 and into a switch housing IIO which contains electrical switching apparatus which may be similar to that hereinbefore mentioned. The tube I09 is supported by the split clamp 11. As seen in Figure 1, the rod I08 is pivoted, as at I I I, and an extremity is adapted to engage one or the other of switch contacts I I2, I I3.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that rollers '90, 9| will be yieldably maintained in engagement with spaced longitudinal portions of the upper surface of the material being processed, such as the tubing or metal shape or form, and rollers 93, 94 will be yieldably urged into engagementwith spaced longitudinal portions of the side surface of the material being processed. The roller 91 is so. positioned that if the portion of the tubing or other material between rollers 90, 9I is other than rectilinear, the contact portion of rod 99 will be moved into engagement with one or the other of contacts I03, I04, depending upon whether the tubing is vertically bowed upwardly or downwardly. Likewise, the roller I01 is so positioned that if the portion of the tubing or other material between rollers 93, 94 is other than rectilinear, the contact portion of rod I98 will be moved into'engagement with one or. the other of contacts I I2, 3 depending upon which direction the tubing is horizontally bowed.

The switching apparatus hereinbefore described is adapted to operate the electric motors 45, 50' to shift the support for the cluster rolls 38 to and fro in proper vertical and horizontal directions in accordance with conditions of the tubing betw'eenrolls 90,' 9I and 93, 94.

Referring. particularly to the electrical diagram illustrated in Figure 1, line wires LI, L2 and L3 are connected in parallel with three manual starter switches H1, H0 and H9. Line wires from switch II1 extend to a mechanically interlocked magnetic reversing starter I20 for controlling operation of motor 45. The starter comprises three normally open contacts I2I, controlled by a solenoid I22, and adapted when closed to cause energization of the motor 45 in a direction to vertically move the cluster rolls 38 in proper direction, and further comprises three normally open contacts I23, controlled by a solenoid I 24, and adapted when closed to cause energization of the motor 45 in an opposite direction to vertically move the cluster rolls 38 in the opposite direction.

In operation, and assuming that portion of the tubing between rolls 90, III is bowed, the roll 91 will be moved by such bowed portion and will move, for example, the contact portion of arm 99 into engagement with contact I03. The electrical circuit may then be traced from control circuit line wire I25, contact I93, solenoid I22, normally closed contact I26 to control circuit line wire I21. The solenoid I22 will thus be energized andwill close the three contacts I2 I. ,Such

electrical circuit may then be traced from line Wire I25, contact I04, solenoid I24, normally closed contact I23and line wire' I21. Thesolenoid will thus be energized and will close the three contacts I23. Such action will cause electrical energy toflow from line wires LI, L2 and L3 to the motor 45 in relation to cause the motor shaft to rotate in a direction opposite to that before mentioned, and thereby cause proper vertical movement of the cluster rolls 38 in a direction opposite to that effected when contact I03 is engaged by the contact portion of rod 99.

A mechanically interlocked magnetic reversing starter I29 is provided for controlling reverse operations of the motor 59. The starter I29 is in all respects similar to the starter I2I and its operation will be understood from previous'description. I

In cases where twisting of the tubing or other material is to be controlled, means may be provided for controlling the motor 33 to prevent undesirable twistingv of the material as it is processed. In; the case of non-circular tubing, such as square tubing, a guide I30 (see Figure '1) may be positioned to pass the moving tubing the guide having link connection with a switch similar to switches hereinbefore specified, so as to move an operating rod I3I to engagement with one or the other of contacts I32, I33. In case of other shapes or forms, the guide I39 will be formed in accordance with the respective shape or form being processed. A magnetic reversing starter I34, similar to the starters hereinbefore mentioned, is provided to control reverse operations of the motor 33.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that" the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodie ment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Straightening apparatus foruse with a machine which continually processes and feeds elongated work, comprising: head means through which the work passes as it leaves said processing machine; said head means being shiitable transversely of the line of travel of said work; contact means positioned in the path, of movement of said work and engageable with the work as the latter moves therepast, said contact means being supported for movementrtransverse to the iine of movement of said work whereby it may follow any deviation from rectilinear formation of said work; and means affected b movement of said contact means. for shifting said head means in proper amount and direction so that said head means acts on the moving work and corrects for deviation from rectilinear formation.

2. Straightening apparatus for use with a machine which continually processes and feeds elongated work, comprising: head means engageable with the work, and through which thework passes as it leaves said processing machine, said head means being shiftable transversely of the line of travel of said work; and control means for controlling shifting movement of said head means, comprising an elongated member, a pair of contact means carried in spaced-apart relation by said member, means yieldably supporting said member in juxtaposed relation with respect to the line of work travel and providing for engagement between said contact means and the work as the latter passes said contact means, an intermediate contact disposed intermediate said pair of contact means and carried by said member and positioned in the path of movement of said work, and engageable with the work as it moves therepast, said intermediate contact means being supported for movement transverse to the line of movement of said work whereby it may follow any deviation from rectilinear formation of the work, and further comprising operating means afiected by movement of said intermediate contact means for controlling shifting movement of said head means in proper amount and direction so that said head means acts on the moving work and corrects for deviation from vancement and transversely to the shifting move-'- ment of said first slide means; and control means for controlling shifting movement of said first and second slide means in accordance with deviation from rectilinear formation of said stock.

4. Straightening apparatus for use with a tube forming machine, comprising: head means engageable with the tube and through which the tube passes as it leaves said tube forming machine, first slide means adapted to beshifted transversely of the line of tube travel, said head meansrbeing' mounted on said first slide means for rotation about'the axis of the tube; second slide meanscarrying said first slide means and adapted to be shifted transversely of the line of tube travel and transversely to the shifting movement of said'first slide means; and control means for controlling shifting movement of said firstandsecond slide means in accordance with deviation from rectilinear formation of said tube and. forcontrolling rotative shifting of said head meansin accordance with any twisting actionof said tube.

5. Straightening apparatus for use'with'a'tube forming machine, comprising: head meansengageablewith the tube'and through which the tubeipasses as it. leaves said tube forming machine; first slide means carryingsaid head means and adapted to be shifted transversely of the line'of tube travel; second slide means carrying said first slide meansand adapted to be shifted transversely of the line of tube travel and transversely to the shifting'movement of said first slide means; and control means for controlling shifting movement of said first and second slide means, comprising an elongated member formed in cross-section to provide two surfaces adapted to be disposed in juxtaposed relation with radially spaced longitudinally extending'portions of the tube as the latter travels past said member, a pair of contact means carried in'spaced-apart relation by each surface of said member, means yieldably supporting said member in juxtaposed relation with respect to the line of tube travel and providing for engagement between pairs of contact means and respective longitudinal portions of the tube, an intermediate contact means disposed intermediate each of said pairs of contact means, each of said intermediate contact means being carried by said member for movement transverse to the line of movement of the tube and being movable through contact with a respective longitudinal portion of the tube when the line of the tube between a respective pair of contact means is other than substantially rectilinear, and also comprising a pair of operating means, afiected by movement of respective intermediate contact means, for operating respective first and second slide means in accordance with deviation from rectilinear formation of said tube.

6. Straightening apparatus for use with a tube forming machine, comprising: head means comprising a cluster-roll arrangement engageable with the tube and through which the tube passes as it leaves said tube forming machine; first slide means carrying said head means and adapted to be shifted transversely of the line of tube travel; second slide means carrying said first slide means and adapted to be shifted transversely of the line of tube travel and transversely to the shifting movement of said first slide means; and control means for controlling shifting movement of said first and second slide means, comprising an elongated member formed in cross-section to pro vide two surfaces adapted to be disposed in juxtaposed relation with radially spaced longitudinally extending portions of the tube asithe latter travels past said member, a pair of rollers carried in spaced-apart relation by each surface of said member, means yieldably supportingsaid member in' juxtaposed relation with respect to the line of tube travel and providing for engagement between pairs of said rollers and respective longitudinal portions of the tube, an intermediate roller disposed intermediateeacheof said pairs 9 of rollers, each intermediate roller being carried by said member for'movement transverse to the line of movement of the tube and being movable through contact with a respective longitudinal portion of the tube when the line of the tube between a respective pair of rollers is other than substantially rectilinear, a pair of switch means afiected by movement of respective intermediate rollers, and a pair of motor means connected to respective first and second slide means and affected by operation of respective switchmeans.

7. For use with apparatus for processing elongated stock and feeding it in a longitudinal direction, head means having an opening transversely surrounding the stock and through which said stock passes as it is fed from said processing apparatus, said head means being shiftable transversely of the line of stock travel and being adapted to shift the stock transversely of its line of travel, detecting means establishing spaced points of engagement with the stock as it passes from said head means and having a shiftable member engaging said stock intermediate said spaced 'points and shifted by nonrectilinear formation of the stock between said spaced points of engagement, and operating means for shifting said head means in accordance with the shifting of said detecting means.

8. Means for controlling operation of apparatus for straightening stock advancing in a longitudinal direction comprising an elongated member, spring means pendulously supporting ber following respective surfaces of the stock and being movable by any deviation of the stock 1 gated stock and feeding it in a longitudinal disaid member in floating juxtaposition to a top surface of the moving stock, means holding said member against longitudinal movement with said stock, said member having spaced-point engagement with said stock surface, a control-operating member carried by said elongated member and biased toward engagement with the top surface of the stock intermediate said spaced-point engagement, but movable in a direction away from such surface whereby it may follow said top surface of the stock and be moved by any deviation of the stock from rectilinear formation, and means acting on the stock for maintaining rectilinear formation thereof, and being operated in accordance-with movement of said control-operating member.

9. Means for controlling operation of apparatus for straightening stock advancing in a longitudinal direction comprising an elongated member angular in cross-section, spring means floatingly supporting said member so that one leg is in juxtaposition to the top surface of the moving stock, means holding said member against longitudinal movement with said stock, spring means urging the other leg of said member toward a side surface of said stock, each of said legs having spaced-point engagement with the respective surface of said stock, and each of said legs having a control-operating member intermediate said spaced-point engagement and biased to engagement with a respective side of the stock but movable in a direction away from said side surface, said control-operating mem- -'rection, detector means for detecting nonrectilinear formation of said stock comprising an elongated member adapted for positionment longitudinally in juxtaposition with respect to said stock, spring means pendulously supporting said member in position, means restricting said member from longitudinal movement with said stock yet providing for movement of said member toward and away from said stock, spring means for urging said member toward said stock, and means at least in part carried by said member and including a portion engageable with the stock surface, the last named means being affected by non-rectilinear formation of the stock.

11. For use with apparatus for processing elongated stock and feeding'it in a longitudinal direction, detector means for detecting nonrectilinear formation of said stock comprising an elongated member angular in cross-section to provide legs adapted for positionment longitudinally in juxtaposition with respect to the top and side surfaces of the stock, spring means pendulously supporting said member in position wherein the top leg is floatingly positioned adjacent to said upper surface, means restricting said member from longitudinal movement with said stock yet providing for movement of 'mation' of the stock.

said member whereby its side leg is movable toward and away from the side surface of said stock, spring means for urging said member toward said side surface, means on the top and side leg of said member, whereby each leg has spaced-apart engagement with the stock as it moves therepast, and means on each leg intermediate the spaced-apart engagement, movable toward and away from the respective surface of said stock, and affected by non-rectilinear for- ISADORE J. VAN HUFFEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STA ES PATENTS Great Britain of 1908 

